As the Bundesliga resumed on Friday, Bayern Munich honored the late Franz Beckenbauer of Germany with a 3-0 victory over Hoffenheim thanks to two goals from Jamal Musiala. Beckenbauer passed away last week.
Harry Kane, the top scorer in the Bundesliga, continued to score in stoppage time, bringing his league total to 22 goals and matching Robert Lewandowski’s record for the most goals scored in a Bundesliga season halfway through.
The Bavarians sit in second place in the standings on 41 points, one behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen, in action against Augsburg on Saturday.
“It was a great game. We had possession a lot and did good counter-pressing,” Musiala stated. “We could have created more chances, we are all hungry. The most important thing is that we kept a clean sheet and got the three points.”
The 10 league goals this season have been set up by Leroy Sané, who supported the Germany international on both occasions.
“We are really good friends, we like to play together and we both are very strong with the ball. It’s really fun to play with Leroy,” he exclaimed.
With two goals from Jamal Musiala, Bayern defeated Hoffenheim.
After winning three straight European Cups with Bayern in the 1970s, among other championships, Beckenbauer—a World Cup winner as a player and coach for Germany—also served as the club president until 2009.
A few hours after his Munich funeral, 75,000 spectators and scores of former Bayern players gathered in the stands to honor “der Kaiser,” with the stadium lit up with the words “Thank You Franz.”
While highlights of Beckenbauer’s career played on stadium screens, the team warmed up wearing shirts carrying his number five.
Following a minute of quiet, the hosts immediately set about their task, boxing Hoffenheim in their own half from the off.
In the eighteenth minute, their unrelenting pressure paid off as Musiala, assisted by Leroy Sane, poked a shot in off the post from close range.
Bayern has now scored in 65 of their previous home Bundesliga games, setting a league record.
Bayern increased their pressure despite Eric Dier, a recent addition, not being included in the lineup. They let the visitors waste their own chances to draw even, hitting the post with Musiala early in the second half and missing six excellent opportunities.
Hoffenheim had three chances to score in a three-minute span, but goalie Manuel Neuer denied them twice in the 63rd and 64th minutes, and Maximilian Beier’s attempt in the 65th minute was blocked by the crossbar.
After combining nicely once more with Sane—bringing his season total of assists to 10—Musiela scored their second goal in the 70th minute to allay the hosts’ fears.
Hoffenheim’s situation worsened when Grischa Promel was sent after only four minutes for a second booking, and Kane’s left-footed effort in stoppage time ensured Bayern’s victory.
